Theresa Allen provides examples of several global projects that connect classrooms around the world using technology. These include the Global Read Aloud where classes read and discuss the same book simultaneously, the Global Monster Project where classes collaborate to describe parts of a monster, and the Virtual Vacation project where small groups of students in different locations plan a family trip together online. Theresa Allen has led many such global projects from her classroom in Illinois and shares her experiences to inspire other educators.

1. Global Projects
Ways to Flatten
Your Classroom
Theresa Allen
Technology Teacher and Coordinator
Cathedral of St. Raymond School, Joliet
Ways to Connect
*5 Phases of Flattening
Your Classroom:
1. Intra Connections - your own class
2. Inter Connections - within the school district
3. Managed Global Connection - more teacher focus
4. Student to Student - with teacher management
5. Student to Student - with student management
(*Vicki Davis, http://www.slideshare.net/coolcatteacher/7steps-flatten-classroom)
Tools to Use for Global Connections
Skype
Google Docs
Typewith.me
Voicethread
Edmodo
Wiki
Blogs - Edublogs, Kidblog, Blogger
Video of Google Docs and Skype

2. Global Read Aloud
Goal of Project: To share the read aloud with other students
Teachers and students read the story during the same time.
Students use Edmodo to share what they've learned and
connect with other students.
Teachers use email and skype to communicate with other classrooms.
Blog: globalreadaloud.blogspot.com
Wiki: http://globalreadaloud.wikispaces.com/
Who runs the program:
Oldschoolteacher jyk730 MarilynP Chris Francik Gill-Ville Mrs Ripp aka @pernilleripp
Grades 1-3 read Flat Stanley and Grades 4-7 read Tuck Everlasting. The project ran
from Sept 19-Oct 14, 2011.
The Global Classroom Project
October 2011-June 2012
The Global Classroom Project is a space for teachers and students around the
world to share, learn, and collaborate across international borders.
(Founders: Deb Frazier Michael Graffin)
Several projects will be hosted on this site. Projects now:
A Glimpse Around the World (8-10yr)
Authentic Global Voices (12-18yr)
Edmodo Pen Pal Project (K-3, 4-6, 7-8th)
Flat Stanley (Flat Kids) (primary)
Kids Speak (5-9yr)
Seasons Around the World (5-9yr)
Wiki: http://globalclassroom2011-12.wikispaces.com/
Blog: http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/
The Global Monster Project
Founder: Terry Smith
Website: http://www.smithclass.org/proj/Monsters/
● Elementary classes from the United States and around the world collaborate in
this standards based project.
● After choosing a Monster part, each class writes a description of that part.
● After all descriptions have been sent in, each class builds its
own MONSTER using everyone's descriptions from a table. Kids get deliberate
practice in collaboration to construct their class MONSTER.
1. ARMS - Jenny Kopp's Class, Miriam School, St. Louis, Missouri: Right: bony 2ft arm;
Left: shorter, chunky 1ft arm. Right arm has a bracelet made of skulls and cross bones. Both tie-dyed,
sharp pointed, funky spiraled tattoos, bendable, hairy, slimy scars.
2. HANDS - Mr. Simonsen's 4th Grade, Indian Wells, California: Right hand -
rectangular prism, left hand - roughly spherical. One hand has eye in middle of palm. Eye has horns
for eyelashes, and eyebrows of flesh-eating worms. Snails emerging from tear-ducts in the eye. Other
hand has a toothy, menacing mouth in center of palm

3. Moon Over Us Project
● Ongoing project
● "Students aged 10-16 and their teachers from around the
world share information about the moon and discuss this
information by commenting on each others web pages.
● This project is a collaboration with schools in Beijing, USA
and Brasil." (Bonnie Thurber)
Founder: Bonnie Thurber
Website: http://www.kidlink.org/kidspace/start.php?
HoldNode=29210&HoldNav=29209
A Kidlink and iCollaboratory project
Hero Voicethread
Project
Founders: (Argentina)
Marta LaVista and Alejandra Quaglia
What type of person comes to mind when you hear
someone talk about a"Hero"?
What qualities do they possess?
What deeds have they done?
How do you think one becomes a Hero?
Students write about a hero and share in the Voicethread.
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/sanandres.esc.edu.ar/myhero/
Digiteen Project
Website: http://www.digiteen.org/
Founders: Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis
Goal: Global Citizenship, Collaboration, Education
From the Website:
● The Digiteen™ Project is a global hands-on project for middle and early high school
students, (typically Grade 6-9, 11-15 year old) which was founded by Julie Lindsay (now in
Beijing, China) and Vicki Davis (Camilla, GA USA) in 2008.
● This project studies digital citizenship with students researching current topics, writing a
collaborative report on a wiki, and performing and documenting offline action educational
projects to promote effective digital citizenship at their local schools.
● The purpose of the project is to educate on and promote effective Digital Citizenship and
responsible online choices as well as immersing students into an educational community for
learning and collaborating.

4. iCollaboratory
Founder: Bonnie Thurber
Website: http://www.icollaboratory.org/
Purpose: To share and build engaging projects and activities
for their students using Google’s Web 2.0 tools and resources
and Moodle's management system in a safe, private
environment.
Some Projects:
● Scariest Stories and Fall Poetry
● What I Am Thankful For
● A Day in Our Neighborhood
● Poetry Sharing
Quadblogging
Founder: David Mitchell
Website: http://quadblogging.net/
Purpose:
● Four schools would work together focusing on one blog each week. Three of the
schools will comment on one blog and then move to the other group's blog the
next week until all four blogs have been visited.
Student Blogging Challenge
Coordinators: Sue Wyatt, Sue Waters and Ronnie Burt
Website: http://studentchallenge.edublogs.org/about/info-for-first-time-
visitors/
Purpose: "The challenge is about getting students to blog and
develop a world wide audience while doing so rather than just
their teacher and classmates." (Miss W)

5. iEARN Learning Circles
Website: http://www.iearn.org/circles/
About: iEARN Learning Circles projects are highly interactive, project-based
partnerships among a small number of schools located throughout the world.
Projects:
● Computer Chronicles
● Places and Perspectives
● My Hero
http://www.iearn.org/circles/2011session1/index.htm
The Landmark Game
Website: http://www.kidlink.org/kidspace/start.php?HoldNode=28295
Coordinator: Terry Smith
About:
● Classes select 9 clues of a specific landmark and send to coordinator.
● Clues given out 3 at a time for 3 weeks.
● Students use clues to find landmark from classrooms over the world.
Begins: February, each year
Mystery State
Skype Project
Website: http://mysterystate.wikispaces.com/
Coordinators: Caren @ Easyedtech@gmail.com and Patti @ pgrays@hra.org
About:
● Ongoing project
● Teachers sign up and find other teachers to skype
● Students create clues about their state; varying levels
● During skype call, students ask questions or share information about their state
- guess after
● Quick, easy

6. A Week in the Life
Website: http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/a-week-in-the-life-project.html
Founders: Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis
Purpose:
● To join Elementary School classrooms globally with a view to exploring
what life is like in each country through discussion, sharing and collecting
multimedia to create final products together. (Julie Lindsay)
Students will be in small teams taking pictures and videos of what life is
like. They will share photos and experiences on Edmodo and wiki.
Teachers and students will create a final project using a Web 2.0 tool that
combines all media.
Presentation
Virtual Vacation
Website: http://virtual-vacation.wikispaces.com/
Coordinator: Theresa Allen
About: In a small group, create a family vacation that includes one
destination and at least two attractions.
Tools Used:
● Google Docs
● Skype
● Google Maps/Earth
Video
About Me
● tdallen5 (twitter and skype id)
● My Blogs:
○ Professional
○ Tumblr
○ Classroom
○ Student
● Technology Teacher/Coordinator for Cathedral of St. Raymond
School in Joliet, IL
● Technology Teacher of the Year, March, 2011
● Flat Classroom Certified Teacher
● Kidlink and iCollaboratory Board Member
● Flattened My Classroom with Many Global Projects
Link to presentation: http://tinyurl.com/3kygjp3